Perioperative Hypogonadism in Men Undergoing Radical Cystoprostatectomy for Bladder Cancer

Jeffrey M. Holzbeierlein, MD, Director of the Division of Urologic Oncology at the University of Kansas Hospital and Director of Clinical Research for the Urology Department at KU, discusses how to improve outcomes around cystoprostatectomy. Even when this treatment is technically successful, many patients still suffer from post-surgical complications and it has a high morbidity rate. Dr. Holzbeierlein highlights significant weight loss and muscle wasting post-surgery as being associated with these increased rates of complication and death. He hypothesizes that this issue, known as cachexia, could be caused by hypogonadism, and could lead to poor outcomes after radical prostatectomies. Dr. Holzbeierlein and his colleagues conducted a study to test this hypothesis and he goes over its methods, results, limitations, and conclusions. He also previews his and his colleagues' next steps and how their research might impact cystoprostatectomy.